Personal trainers who have worked with the likes of Scarlett Johansson recommend eating dark chocolate before a workout.
Brothers Ryan and Eric Johnson say there are many benefits to the routine, including boosting your energy and creating a positive feedback loop.
Ideally, they say you should eat a third of a bar of high quality dark chocolate 15 minutes before a workout.

Chocolate and fitness are two things that most people don’t assume go hand-in-hand.

However, for two personal trainers, chocolate is the key to a good workout.

Ryan and Eric Johnson are the brothers behind Homage Fitness, a new line of gyms in private residences across Miami, New York, and D.C. designed to combine top level fitness with hospitality.

The brothers, who are certified strength and conditioning coaches, have over a decade of experience in the fitness industry.

They also happen to be Scarlett Johansson’s personal trainers and have worked with her and other actors on films such as “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” “Ghost in The Shell,” and “Avengers: Infinity War — Part 1.”

The most surprising part of their workout routines? The duo always eat dark chocolate as a pre-workout snack — and they encourage their clients to do the same.

“We’re always searching for a good pre-workout supplement but most of the things you can buy in stores are full of sugar and caffeine,” Eric told INSIDER.

“We already drink way too much coffee and most of our clients do too, so we wanted to find something which was more naturally organic and that would give you the same benefits.”

The benefits of chocolate in moderation are well documented.

The brothers say that good quality dark chocolate (ideally at least 70% cacao) has been proven to release endorphins that make us feel good.

What’s more, a recent study found that people who eat chocolate three times a month had a reduced risk of heart failure of 13%, compared to those who ate none. Similarly, as an anti-inflammatory food, chocolate is linked to living longer.

“Dark chocolate releases dopamine and has a lot of benefits such as vasodilation which is basically that pump that people are after when they’re trying to build muscle,” Eric continues.

“It also benefits your brain function because it stimulates your brain cells to release that dopamine. And it also releases serotonin which is going to calm the nervous system down.”

Science aside, the fitness gurus encourage people to get into the habit of eating dark chocolate before a workout for psychological reasons too.

“It creates this positive feedback loop with your brain — now that you’re getting this piece of chocolate before your workout you’re creating a positive association with your training session and you’re getting more excited to get to the gym… you have something to look forward to,” Ryan says.

Related Posts - Usa news

Bringing your phone to the gym could be sabotaging your workout, according to Scarlett Johansson’s personal trainers Taking your phone into the gym with you could be sabotaging your workouts, according to Scarlett Johansson's personal trainer. People end up mindlessly scrolling through social media, making their rest periods much longer than they should be to get the best results. Tracking your rests between sets "can improve your workout exponentially," say Eric and Ryan Johnson. On any trip to the gym, certain sights are a given: squirming faces from PT victims, gym bros grunting their way through each bicep curl, and people sitting around on their phones. Yes, whether you're taking selfies in the mirror or scrolling through…

Jane Fonda on Lily Tomlin: ‘I’m fascinated with her, she always says something funny’ Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin were on Jimmy Kimmel last week to promote season five of Grace and Frankie, which premiered on Netflix Friday. Like their appearance on Ellen, they were delightful and their love for each other was obvious. Jane and Lily felt like they were too far apart during the interview so they sat in the same chair! They had their arms around each other and it was sweet. When Jimmy asked about their friendship Jane's response was so heartfelt that I got a little jealous. I want a best friend like that! Do you still feel like…

Newest Indiana nature preserve contains insect-eating plants SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A northern Indiana wetland that's home to insect-eating plants and other rare species has become the state's newest nature preserve. The Natural Resources Commission on Tuesday approved designating the more-than-176-acre site as the Lydick Bog Nature Preserve. Indiana now has 288 state-designated nature preserves. The Shirley Heinze Land Trust acquired the Lydick Bog in 2015. The non-profit group says the property just west of South Bend contains one of Indiana's last remaining bogs and features rare and unusual habitat, including wetlands interspersed with high ridges and islands of upland forest. Insect-eating plants, including the pitcher plant…